Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. But recent studies indicate that niacin provides little additional benefit when compared with statins alone, and may increase the risks of serious side effects. Statins do this much better than niacin does. And if you take a look at the medical literature as a whole, niacin does not appear to be that effective in improving patient outcomes. “It can cause muscle achiness. “The benefit data behind statins is actually quite strong, especially in individuals with heart disease, those with diabetes and those with persistently very high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels (over 190 mg/dL). Is that combination safe? The key is not letting your cholesterol profile become undesirable in the first place. In the past, it was thought that HDL levels would increase even more if niacin was added to cholesterol medications called statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor). The information presented on this website is not intended as specific medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical treatment or diagnosis. Wednesday, 29 April 2015 04:36 PM. The main goal of cholesterol treatment is to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD. It is illegal to copy, reprint or republish any content or portions of content from this site without the author's permission. Scarysymptoms.com will not be liable for damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this site. What are the side effects of statins and niacin? American. High dose niacin can make blood sugar control worse in people with diabetes and prediabetes. Links will not be permitted. “The benefit data behind statins is actually quite strong, especially in individuals with heart disease, those with diabetes and those with persistently very high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels (over 190 mg/dL). But niacin has the advantage of raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol much more than statins do. She continues: “And drugs have side effects. Plus the best information on fitness, exercise and fat loss. “So even though it may lower cholesterol, the net benefit is more neutral for niacin than for statins. The content on this site is meant for information and guidance only, not for diagnosing or treating medical conditions. Okay, so what if you have great blood sugar levels and use the non-flush version of niacin? Niacin can help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL). To date, niacin is the only supplement that shows real promise in helping cholesterol, but it can’t decrease LDL cholesterol like statins can. It also lowers triglycerides, fats in … What to Do if You're 20 and Cholesterol is 250 or 300? “Because the benefit data for primary prevention with statins (taking them as a purely precautionary step) is less robust, I always try to work hard with my patients to address their cholesterol profiles with lifestyle changes, especially diet.”. Statins can lower LDL cholesterol better than niacin can. Does High Cholesterol Mean You Should Take Statin Drugs? Keep discussions on topic, avoid personal attacks and threats of any kind. This is mainly due to adverse drug interactions that can occur and concern that niacin often carries more risks than benefits for people on statin therapy. A common prescription for high triglycerides is niacin or vitamin B-3. It can cause flushing and itching [though non-flush versions are available].”. You may have read that niacin or niacinamide has a positive effect on cholesterol profile, and that some cholesterol drugs are “knockoffs” of vitamin B3. Niacin can raise HDL levels more than statins can. “I only use high dose niacin as a second-tier therapy in those patients with known heart disease who cannot tolerate statins and don’t recommend them for diabetics. All text is copyright property of this site's authors. Pa. Judge Opines State's Mail-in Ballot Procedures Likely Illegal... Pennsylvania High Court Rejects Lawsuit Challenging Election... Biden Considering Cindy McCain for UK Ambassador Role... House GOP: Censure Dem for Complaint in Trump Legal Team... Carter Page Suing FBI, DOJ for $75M Over Surveillance... Pa. Judge Opines State's Mail-in Ballot Procedures Likely Illegal, Pennsylvania High Court Rejects Lawsuit Challenging Election, Biden Considering Cindy McCain for UK Ambassador Role, House GOP: Censure Dem for Complaint in Trump Legal Team, Carter Page Suing FBI, DOJ for $75M Over Surveillance. “Because my patients found it hard to modify their diet to get these nutrients in adequate amounts, I created Step One Foods to make it easy.”. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Niacin is no longer recommended as a first-line therapy when using statins to lower cholesterol. Niacin (nicotinic acid, or vitamin B3) is a vitamin that, when taken in high doses, can help lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL cholesterol. 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